NFL News:
The New England Patriots are sending former defensive tackle Vince Wilfork into retirement. The defending NFL champions said goodbye to the player who helped them win two Super Bowls. He played in New England for 11 seasons and was named to five Pro Bowls. He played his last two years with the Houston Texans.
MLB:
The Boston Red Sox still enjoy a four-game lead in the AL East after running their winning streak to eight games.
The Red Sox scored five times in the fifth inning of an 8-2 rout of Tampa Bay. Eduardo Nunez triggered the rally with a single off the foot of Jake Odorizzi, taking the pitcher out of the game.
Boston finished the game with just three RBIs, scoring runs on errors by Odorizzi and first baseman Trevor Plouffe, two wild pitches and a passed ball.
Sandy Leon lined a two-run single and Rick Porcello improved to 6-14 by limiting the Rays to two runs and four hits in six innings.
Adeiny Hechavarria and Brad Miller homered for the Rays, who lost their share of the second AL wild-card berth.
The Yankees kept pace with the Red Sox by crushing three home runs in an 11-5 pounding of the Blue Jays. Todd Frazier hit a first-inning solo shot and added a two-run double that put the Yanks ahead 5-2 in the fifth. Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius each hit their 18th home runs of the season as New York won for the third time in four games since a four-game losing streak.
— Joey Gallo's 32nd homer of the season was a two-run blast that gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead in the first inning of a 5-1 win against the Mets. The Rangers scored their other runs on a balk, a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk in earning a split of the two-game set. Martin Perez scattered three hits over eight innings and blanked New York until Wilmer Flores' solo homer in the sixth.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— The Cubs were unable to expand their 1 ½-game lead in the NL Central, absorbing a 3-1 loss to the Giants in San Francisco. Madison Bumgarner surrendered Albert Almora Jr.'s solo shot but just four other hits while striking out seven over seven innings. Jarrett Parker singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh, one inning before Hunter Pence homered.
— The Twins did the Cubs a favor as Bartolo Colon scattered five hits over seven innings of Minnesota's 4-0 shutout of the Brewers. The 44-year-old Colon has won his last two starts since opening the year 2-9 with a 7.70 ERA. Brian Dozier smacked a solo homer among his three hits as the Twins sent the Brewers to their fourth consecutive loss.
— The Cardinals' 8-5 win over the Royals puts St. Louis in a second-place tie with the Brewers in the NL Central and keeps Kansas City four games behind the first-place Indians in the AL Central. The Royals were clinging to a 5-4 lead until Yadier Molina unloaded a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. Jose Martinez also homered in the Redbirds' fifth consecutive win overall and third straight against their Missouri counterparts.
— Charlie Blackmon's 27th home run of the season sent the Rockies to a 3-2, 12-inning win over the Indians at Cleveland. Blackmon's solo shot came after Jonathan Lucroy doubled home Carlos Gonzalez with the tying run off Chad Allen in the ninth. Alexi Amarista also homered for the Rockies, but Francisco Lindor's two-run blast put the Indians ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third.
— The Nationals hammered the Marlins, 10-1 behind Ryan Zimmerman, who was 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs and four runs scored. Howie Kendrick added three hits and three ribbies as Washington regained its 14-game lead in the NL East. Gio Gonzalez improved to 10-5 by limiting Miami to a run and seven hits over seven frames.
— Nicholas Castellanos was 3-for-5 with five RBIs to back Justin Verlander in Detroit's 10-0 crushing of the Pirates. Verlander allowed just one hit over eight innings, a two-out double by Josh Bell in the sixth inning. Pittsburgh ended a three-game winning streak and stayed 3 ½ games off the NL Central lead.
— The Dodgers' 3-2 win at Arizona leaves Los Angeles with a 15-game lead over Colorado in the NL West. Travis Wood improved to 14-1 by limiting the Diamondbacks to a pair of runs and six hits over six innings. However, Wood and the Dodgers trailed 2-1 in the seventh until Joc Pederson hit an RBI double and scored on Yasiel Puig's single. Clay Bellinger clubbed his 33rd home run for L.A.
— Houston's recent struggles continued as the AL West leaders absorbed a second straight loss to the last-place White Sox, 7-1. The game was scoreless until Chicago put together a four-run sixth on Tim Anderson's two-run homer and a two-run single by Yolmer Sanchez. Miguel Gonzalez tossed five-hit ball over eight innings and blanked the Astros until Derek Fisher's homer in the eighth, the lone bright spot in Houston's eighth loss in 11 games.
— The Mariners own the second AL wild-card slot by one game over the Rays and Royals after Kyle Seager slammed a three-run shot in the first inning to put Seattle ahead to stay in a 6-3 win at Oakland. Nelson Cruz homered twice and provided three RBIs for the Mariners, who received 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball from the bullpen. The M's are a half-game ahead of the Royals and Tampa Bay Rays.
— Troy Scribner combined with three relievers on a four-hitter as the Angels stifled the Orioles, 5-1. Scribner gave up a run and two hits over five innings, including Welington Castillo's solo shot in the top of the third. C.J. Cron's two-run homer broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth.
— Eugenio Suarez and Stuart Turner each smacked two-run homers and Jose Peraza drove in three runs in the Reds' 8-3 rout of the Padres. Asher Wojciechowski blanked San Diego until Manuel Margot and Wil Myers homered in the sixth.
— Jared Eickoff carried a shutout into the seventh and the Phillies scored twice on Odubal Herrera's RBI triple before beating the Braves, 3-2. Herrera came around to score on his third-inning triple following an error by rookie second baseman Ozzie Albies. Freddy Galvis supplied a run-scoring double that put Philadelphia up 3-0 in the fifth.
MLB-NEWS:
Michael Brantley's ankle injury has prompted the Indians to get a power-hitting outfielder.
The Mets have shipped Jay Bruce to Cleveland for minor league pitcher Ryder Ryan. Bruce is hitting .256 with 29 home runs and 75 this season.
The Indians aren't sure how long they'll be without Brantley, who was placed on the disabled list after injuring his right ankle while going after a fly ball Tuesday against the Rockies. Brantley initially feared he tore his Achilles, but an MRI revealed only a minor injury.
In other major league news:
— A person familiar with the negotiations says a group led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Quogue Capital investment fund founder Wayne Rothbaum has halted its bid to buy the Miami Marlins. The person said Massachusetts businessman Tagg Romney was part of the Bush-Rothbaum group before pulling out more than a month ago. The moves leave groups led by former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and by South Florida businessman Jorge Mas still in contention for the franchise.
— A scan showed no new damage to CC Sabathia's arthritic right knee, but the status of the New York Yankees left-hander for Sunday night's start against Boston remains unclear. Sabathia was forced from Tuesday's loss at Toronto after three innings and returned to New York for an MRI.
— Braves rookie shortstop Johan Camargo was placed on the 10-day disabled list after suffering a bone bruise in his knee while jogging onto the field before Tuesday night's game. Rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and was expected to start in tonight's game against the Phillies.
— The Twins have recalled first baseman Kennys Vargas from Triple-A Rochester to fill the roster spot created after starting pitcher Adalberto Mejia landed on the 10-day disabled list. Mejia left the game Tuesday in the fourth inning with upper arm pain.
NFL:
The Atlanta Falcons have worked out an extension with Devonta Freeman that theoretically makes him the highest-paid running back in the league in terms of the overall package.
The five-year, $41.25 million package includes a $15 million signing bonus and $22 million in guaranteed money.
Freeman has run for 2,383 yards in three years with the Falcons, including 1000-yard seasons in 2015 and last year.
— The Colts have released defensive tackle Kendall Langford after he failed a physical. Langford went on the physically unable to perform list as training camp opened with an injured knee.
— Coach Marvin Lewis was back with the Bengals Wednesday after missing a practice to have a knee problem checked. The 58-year-old Lewis had scans on a swollen knee Tuesday at the hospital and plans to coach the Bengals' preseason opener Friday against Tampa Bay.
— The league has announced that it will begin hiring between 21 and 24 full-time officials from among the current roster of 124 for this season. The full-timers will be hired at each of the seven officiating positions and may serve on each of the 17 crews. They will work collaboratively with their assigned crews, the league officiating staff and the NFL's football-related committees during the offseason.
— Prosecutors say domestic violence charges against former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock were dropped because of insufficient evidence. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that felony charges filed in June were dropped Tuesday because prosecutors say the victim did not want to cooperate.
TIGER WOODS:
A Florida prosecutor says Tiger Woods has agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving and will enter a diversion program that will allow him to have his record wiped clean if he completes it.
Woods was charged with driving under the influence in May when he was found asleep in his Mercedes-Benz, apparently under the influence of a prescription painkiller and sleeping medication. No alcohol was found in his system.
Woods did not appear at the Palm Beach County courthouse for his arraignment Wednesday. His attorney entered a not guilty plea to the DUI charge on Woods' behalf and declined comment as he left the courthouse.
NBA:
The Brooklyn Nets will travel to Mexico City in December for two regular-season games as part of the 25th anniversary of the first NBA game in Mexico.
The league announced today that the Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder will play in Mexico City on Dec. 7. The Nets will play the Miami Heat on Dec. 9. Both games will be in Arena Ciudad de Mexico.
MEXICO-DRUG TRAFFICKING:
The U.S. Treasury Department says legendary Mexican soccer player Rafael Marquez Alvarez is among 22 people sanctioned for alleged ties to a drug trafficking organization.
Marquez is a former Barcelona and New York Red Bulls star who currently plays for the Mexican soccer club Atlas in Guadalajara and is captain of the Mexican national team.
Treasury said that the sanctions are the result of a multi-year investigation of the drug trafficking organization allegedly headed by Raul Flores Hernandez. A Treasury statement says the U.S. will also sanction 43 entities in Mexico, including a soccer team and casino.
NASCAR:
William Byron will replace Kasey Kahne next season at Hendrick Motorsports, the latest teenager to earn a promotion to NASCAR's top level.
The 19-year-old will drive the No. 5 Chevrolet in the Cup series.
Kahne and Hendrick announced their split earlier this week.
TENNIS:
Andy Murray has pulled out of next week's Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati because of an ongoing hip injury.
The top-ranked Murray has not played since his Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Sam Querrey on July 12.
Murray said in a post on his Facebook page that he is working hard to be fit for the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 28.
MacPherson OBIT:
The final good-bye for former Syracuse University head football coach Dick MacPherson will be right where he would have wanted it to be — on campus.
Calling hours for MacPherson, who died Tuesday of natural causes at age 86, are scheduled for Thursday evening at Hendricks Chapel. A funeral service will be held Friday afternoon, also at Hendricks Chapel.
MacPherson made his mark with the Orange, resurrecting a declining program and returning it to national prominence after arriving before the 1981 season. He transformed a team that had produced only three winning seasons in a decade into a consistent winner.
By the time he left Syracuse, MacPherson had compiled a 66-46-4 record, departing as the school's second-winningest coach.
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